Hi - are we right for a Staffy?

Hi all

My husband and I are looking to home a rescue dog. Until very recently a staffy is not a dog I would consider. I had the ignorant perception that they were unpredictable, unfriendly and could be nasty. Please don't shoot me down for this - I know now that I was ignorant

A few weeks ago when we took our cat to the vets I met my first staffy. She was such a friendly, lovely natured dog and tried to lick me to death! Having spent days browsing the rescues I am very sad to see so many staffys no one seems to want. Its heartbreaking. We have now opened our minds to the possibility of a staffy.

We lost our 17 year old cat last week and now have no other animals. We dont have any children. I dont work due to having fibromyalgia. There will be times when, for a few days I wont be able to walk a dog for too long. But my husband will be able to so the dog would get walks every day. We have a 75ft garden, fully enclosed by 6 ft fencing. We are looking for a dog who is friendly, loyal, who likes a lot of fuss, who will keep me company during the day and who will sit on the sofa with us in the evenings. Would a staffy be ok with us do you think?

Please be honest - I wont be offended as I would rather know and do my homework before getting a dog.

Thank you!

Welcome from me and misty. I'll be completely honest with you...you sound prefect for a staff!!
First I really respect you admitting you didn't know much about the breed, it's lovely to hear of people changing their minds about this wonderful breed. They are so quirky, I've never known a dog like them.

I think the fact you are asking questions is great, so many people take on a dog on a whim and its lovely to hear people considering things. The fact you are at home is great, Staffords Adore human company. My hubby is at home all day and misty is a lap dog. You will have to spend a lot of the day stroking them though, misty will actually pull our hands with her paw if we stop stroking her.

I honestly don't think you can meet a more loyal or loving dog than the staff. The exercise seems great, misty has two walks a day.

I love hearing of dogs getting their forever home from rescues.

Now I will be honest about the negative,  it's possible you will face other people's prejudice. Sometimes not often but very rarely people will see us waking and cross the road when they see us. My mum overheard a lady at work once bashing the breed so she felt she had to step in and say something, she couldn't hear silly opinions about her grand dog. So I would say if you can handle maybe the odd look or negative comment from people then please please rescue a staffy!!!
Is definitely recommend going to training classes too, it will help build a bond and also be great mental exercise.

Would love to hear when you decide! Fingers and paws crossed for you.

I agree, you sound perfect for a staffie and a staffie would be perfect for you! I would suggest, though, that you find an older dog as young staffies in particular can be very full on and can be physically quite demanding. Staffies can be very high energy dogs and it sounds like you'd be better off with one at the quieter end of the staffie spectrum.

Please go to a reputable rescue that is a registered charity. There are some dodgy places out there and you want to be sure that you will have support if you need it. Using a registered charity means that at least they have been checked by the Charities Commission, not a guarantee but better than nothing. If you're in/near Essex, let me know! When Ian comes on he'll laugh at me, I can usually be relied on to think of a suitable dog!

edit - I've just seen you are in Essex!!! Have a look at this little girl

http://www.rspcaessex.org.uk/bella13543.html

Staffy is loyal and people orintated as they come all they want is human company i love the fact you decided on rescue . Rescue centres are full of staffys needing hokes nobody wants them because of media perception, you will never get a more loyal companion than a staffy the good thing about a staffy they are easy to groom and train

Well said as always liz

Thank you all for replying and being so supportive I got this breed so wrong and am just so glad we met the staffy in the vets

Liz, I am in Ongar, Essex

Now I'm not biased or anything but... you couldn't wish for a better companion. Sounds to me like it could be a perfect match as Staffies are very human orientated and thrive on human contact. Good luck with your search

Welcome to the forum BTW

Thank you Ian

Oakmoss wrote:
Liz, I am in Ongar, Essex

Just down the road (sort of!), I'm in Tiptree.

Do have a look at Bella. She's a very sweet girl and really needs someone at home with her most of the time so you'd be perfect for her. Or Finn, he's fairly laid back as well.

Thank you Liz - they are both lovely dogs

I have also seen one on the internet called Tia at a place called Wallace Kennels (they take in rescue dogs) in Stondon Massey (Brentwood, Essex) but they are not a registered charity. Also, it also refers to her as a long legged staffy. What is one of these compared to a 'normal' staffy please?

A 'long-legged' staffie is probably going to be a cross breed - I'm surprised they use the term to be honest. Her photos look pretty staffie but my guess is there will be something else in there. Crosses are great, by the way (I have to say that, having two of them!).

The bit I'd be careful of is that she's described as 'very bouncy'. Staffies can be very in-your-face bouncy and if you're not 100% it might not be the best match.

As for the kennels, I haven't heard anything negative about them but if you do decide to go and have a look at Tia let me know and I'll tell you what to look out for .

Thanks Liz - you are ever so patient with me!

After looking I have decided to see if we can go and visit Bella and Finn at Danaher and have contacted them to ask, told them about us and given our contact details.

Is it normal to be almost unbearably excited about all this?!

A perfect match for you is a staffie, thanks for overcoming the ignorant view of this wonderful breed My mum was horrified when I got Katy, now she gets sat on & licked to death & will even say hello to them in the street. They are intelligent, loyal & I must say the most loving breed I have ever met
Liz, Bella looks adorable

We've had our little shadow for 4 months now, we can't leave the room without Gus following us he just wants to be with us constantly. Get ready for lots of staffy kisses. I didn't know much about staffies but after doing our research we decided to go for it and haven't looked back, they really are the best. Keep us updated on how you get on and ask away with any questions you have.

Oakmoss wrote:Thanks Liz - you are ever so patient with me!

After looking I have decided to see if we can go and visit Bella and Finn at Danaher and have contacted them to ask, told them about us and given our contact details.

Is it normal to be almost unbearably excited about all this?!

Not patient, just obsessive about finding our dogs homes! I'm a volunteer at Danaher (they're my photos on the website) so I meet all of the dogs and I want to help all of them!

And yes, if you're not unbearably excited we'd worry!

Thanks Liz

I have been looking at people photo's and videos on here - such beautiful, gorgeous dogs I can't believe how my perception of this breed was so wrong. I am ever so glad I met the staffy at the vets. If we hadn't met her I would never have thought to look on here. Maybe it was meant to be in a strange way

I have to say though, on a more serious note, that when I saw one of your videos, I was rather shocked at your cruelty towards poor Chaos, making him wait for his bob a lot!!!!

It probably sounds stupid but I have a lot of love to offer a dog and I can't wait to give one a home. My husband solemnly informed me a little earlier this evening that we would need to buy a dog bed for the bedroom as the dog would not be sleeping on the bed. I didn't say anything - I think that my pitying look at him said it all!!! By the way this is the same man who used to sleep with hardly any covers on in the middle of winter, half hanging off the edge of the bed because he didn't want to disturb the cats So yes, a real disciplinarian that one!!!

I also said Gus wouldn't ever be allowed in the bed!

Oakmoss wrote:Thanks Liz - you are ever so patient with me!

After looking I have decided to see if we can go and visit Bella and Finn at Danaher and have contacted them to ask, told them about us and given our contact details.

Is it normal to be almost unbearably excited about all this?!

Hi from Tess and myself and welcome to the forum.By the things you say you would like in a dog I would say without doubt a staffy ticks all the boxes for you.I hope you are lucky with your search.
If you don't mind me asking,why are you looking for another staffy ? because that little red staff in your avatar looks really nice apart from the pricked ears
By the way I must not forget to ring specsavers to get my eyes tested again.

Welcome to the forum. You sound a perfect match to me. I'm really excited for you, please let us know when you find your new family member

Welcome to the forum rescuing is fabulous and very rewarding theres an added bonus with rescue ur dog will be neutered/speyed and microchipped too. I also rescued do let us know how you get on.

Hia from me and Sasha   you'll never get a better dog than a staffy,life will never be the same again 

Congratulations on choosing the best breed ever (no bias, just fact!).

I've had a few different breeds in my dog owning years and whilst I love all dogs, the staffy will always have my heart and I could never be without one.

Well done on looking past all the bs associated with the breed, I always stand by the motto there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners. Love a staffy and treat it right and it will give the same in return, 100 times over.

I am so glad that I joined this forum - you are all very helpful, thank you very much

Danaher have emailed me this morning to say that our information has been passed to Bella and Finns carers and if they think we might be suitable then they will be in touch Finn looks like a lovely dog but its Bella I keep going back to

I was hoping I might be able to visit tomorrow but they have said they are really busy with appointments which, while sad for me as I will have to wait to meet Bella and Finn, its great that so many people are going to meet the animals

In the meantime I most definitely haven't been looking at dog toys, bowls etc - nope, definitely not!!!!

Bella looks adorable, I hope you get to meet her soon

Good luck with your search, they really are the loveliest breed of dog.

Thank you Dizzy and Laura

Danaher just called to invite us to meet Finn Bella's carer is not in today. She is in tomorrow and once she has had a look at our form we will be able to arrange to go in and meet Finn and hopefully Bella too

Fingers crossed! I would imagine that if you're ok to meet Finn you'll be ok to meet Bella too. Don't quote me on that though!

I can't even put into words the joy & love you get from having a dog. Staffies love cuddles & attention so much that they are a perfect best friend

I've just had a call from Danaher. They are happy for us to meet both Bella and Finn tomorrow morning at 11:30 am

I am so excited (massive understatement!!!!)

Fantastic news. Hope you can sleep tonight.

I wasn't going to go in tomorrow as I don't have anything new to do but I might just be tempted to pop in for a sneak peak.

Liz it would be lovely to meet you and thank you personally for all the help and advice you have given me

I think I may be a little over excited as I just caught myself wondering what to wear to meet Bella and Finn As if they will mind! Hang on, they won't mind will they?!!!!

Just don't take the squirrel with you, that's all!

I think I may be a little over excited as I just caught myself wondering what to wear to meet Bella and Finn As if they will mind! Hang on, they won't mind will they?!!!!

 Ha ha that has made me laugh so much! You are definitely Staffy mad already like the rest of us!!!! Soon you will have only the smallest slice of bed too sleep on and will not remember a time when you went to the bathroom alone. Wonderful times are ahead  _ good luck for tomorrow!

The question is now, will you end up with TWO?
The second I read 'likes a lot of fuss' I thought Yep. Staffy's going to be perfect. I spend a lot of time typing one-handed because the other hand is on scritching duty, that or scratching Gizmo's back with my feet.

BTW - I hope you're ok with getting licked, because they are definitely licky dogs and cannot be stopped.

Ooh how exciting! I'm really happy for you. Liz what fab pictures of Bella & Finn. Good luck for tomorrow

How exciting !
It WILL go really well

Liz - what are you trying to do to me lol?!

Will keep you all posted xxx

We met the lovely Bella and Finn (and Liz!) earlier today and both are lovely dogs

It is absolutely no reflection on Finn at all its just that there was something particularly special about Bella and I am very very happy to report that we have placed a temporary reserve on her and are looking forward to visiting her for the second time and to proceeding after that with the home check if Danaher are happy with us having her

Thank you ever so much Liz - we wouldn't have known about Bella if it wasn't for you We owe you big time!

Thank also to everyone else here for all the advice and support you have offered and for making me feel that I have somewhere to come to with my questions Thank you for not judging me for getting this breed so wrong before now

I don't know why it felt right before I'd even met you and you'd met Bella but it did. Seeing you and Bella together this morning was lovely, really lovely. And yes, Finn's a great dog but there wasn't that spark between you. You and Bella just looked so right.

When's the 2nd visit, Monday?

Great news

Fantastic news

Do you want me to hold fire with the photo till later for any reason, or can I post one now?

Thank you all

Post away Liz but I can only apologise in advance to everyone as whilst Bella is beautiful and very photogenic I most certainly am not!!!!!!

Come on Liz get the photo up

Someone's looking very settled on that lap already

Lovely news. Liz you are a genius matchmaker

You can already see a bit of a bond! gorgeousness xx

Oh yay ! So happy that the day has been so special with you meeting your staffy